The tone of life after "Hammerfall" is one where those who do not have valuable professions for a world without power or civilization are relegated to being manual laborers, regardless of their socioeconomic status or profession before the Fall.
One of the interesting things woven throughout the book is a subtle dropping of a list of books. I'll include that list in a follow-up post here, so watch this space. For now, here is the aforementioned blog post, from codenameinsight:
The Survivalist's BookshelfWhen it comes to preparing for disaster, almost everything you need to do/know/learn can be found online. There may be a time, however, when power is not available, the internet is not available, and all of the information that you have so careful stored away in the cloud is unreachable. This is why, even though nearly all of my survival-related stuff is online, I still have a stack of useful books in storage for use in the event that TSHTF and I need valuable survival information at my fingertips. Here's some books that should be in your library:
- The Encyclopedia of Country Living
(I've had a copy of this super useful book since the first edition was available)
- Where There Is No Doctor
(basic info but very good, I have used this book on many of my world travels)
- Where There Is No Dentist
(ditto. I don't use this as much but for third world travel I have used this info to share with others)
- Boston's Gun Bible
(this is on my list of things to buy when I get back, comes highly recommended from a couple of friends)
- Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills, Third Edition
(I've had my copy of this book since the first edition)
- Be Expert With Map and Compass
(ditto, my copy of this book is ancient; this is the book that taught me how to use a map and compass)
- Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods From Dirt To Plate (The Wild Food Adventure Series, Book 1)
(good pictures, will come in useful when TSHTF)
- Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West
(a guidebook more specific to my area)
- SAS Survival Handbook, Revised Edition: For Any Climate, in Any Situation
(this is a classic)
- The SAS Guide to Tracking, New and Revised
(this is on my list to get)
- Wilderness Medicine, 5th Edition
(super expensive and super technical, probably more than most people need)
- Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine
(possibly a better option than the book above)
- Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Keep Your Family Safe in a Crisis
(good basic info on food storage)
- New Fix-It-Yourself Manual: How to Repair, Clean, and Maintain Anything and Everything In and Around Your Home
(back before the internet, this was my bible for fixing things)
- In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal Protection
(this is a classic)
- Putting Food By: Fifth Edition
(another classic; excellent info on food storage)
- How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times
(I've perused this book but don't own it. If you are new to survivalism this is the book for you as it hits all of the high points)
- Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game
(if you have never butchered an animal before, this book will show you how)
- The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence
(survival psychology...very good info)
- Primitive Wilderness Living & Survival Skills: Naked into the Wilderness
(when TSHTF, technology goes out the window and we will revert to primitive skills, this book will teach you those skills)That's a pretty long list but it hits all of the essential skills: how to find food, how to prepare food, how to preserve food, how to take care of medical emergencies, how to navigate, how to make shelter, and a multitude of other survival skills.
- Essential Bushcraft
(ditto)
(ditto)
(ditto)
